Climate change has been described as one of the greatest threats to the environment and to human health and a new study published in the August issue of the Journal of Physical Activity & Health looks at the possible consequences to health.

One of the key outcomes of climate change is a rapid increase in global temperatures, resulting in rising sea levels and an increased frequency of acute heatwaves.

The population health risks linked to such temperature changes include increased morbidity and mortality due to infectious disease outbreaks and exposures to air pollution.

In an article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Dr. Peter Brukner, Human Kinetics’ author of Stress Fractures and clinic director at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre in Melbourne, looks at some commonly held core principles that may in fact be myths.

“Let’s start with a couple of quiz questions. Put your hands up if you have given the following pieces of advice to your patients/athletes. (1) Thirst is not a good indicator of hydration. You must drink lots of fluids before, during and after exercise. (2) The optimum diet for weight control, general health and athletic performance consists of low fat, high carbohydrate.

Regular physical activity is key to achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, as well as being important for good mental health.

However, cycle use is lower in Britain than it is in other European countries, such as the Netherlands, Denmark and France.

Researchers found that secondary school students were less likely to be obese and to have other risk factors for diabetes if their school offered healthier food, more vigorous PE lessons and expanded health education.